100

One hundred posts. Another milestone reached this November, this one will not pass unnoticed, but will pass without the fanfare of my 30^th birthday or Lauris’s first haircut. Similar to the one-year anniversary of our arrival in France (November 8^th), it serves to remind me of how quickly time flies.

Looking back on the past year I realize how much things have changed: Lauris is not a little baby anymore, but far from making our lives easier this has only made things more challenging. We aren’t the new arrivals in Clermont-Ferrand any longer; we have been in our apartment for over six months now and a handful of families have arrived since. We have become accustomed to life here; we have chosen our favorite flower shop and boulangerie, know the best times to go grocery shopping to avoid the lines, and somewhat understand the daily rhythm of the city. And most importantly Clermont now feels like home, we have formed friendships and established relationships that give our life here excitement and meaning.

A 29 week bump

But as the saying goes, the more things change, the more things stay the same. My French language skills have barely improved beyond what I arrived in France with. We still have only the most basic understanding of how “things work” here, many times struggling under the deluge of paperwork and appointments needed to retain our status as legal residents. And the longing to be near family has not only remained with us, but possibly increased as we miss all the family gatherings and celebrations back in the US.

This next year will bring far greater change as we welcome the new addition to the family and learn to adjust to being a family of four. But it will also bring more opportunity to travel to new places, meet new people and experience new things, and for this I am extremely grateful. Keeping this diary of our adventures here has become so much more than what it started as 100 posts ago; from a method of keeping friends and family updated on our travels, Lauris’s development and life in France, it has expanded into a catharsis that allows me to feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. No matter that the laundry basket is full and I have yet to finish the ironing from the last, no matter that the room/table/area I just cleaned is already a mess, no matter that there are days where all I do is prepare food, at the end of the day I have something to show for my efforts because I have this blog, I have my 100 posts, and I have a record that we are learning, living and loving our time here in France.

Rue des Gras on Thanksgiving day

And the post that started it all, Happy New Year!!!

Première coupe de cheveux

Another big event this month, Lauris got his first haircut! He really didn’t have much hair as a baby, so I had been reluctant to cut any of his wispy locks. There was a short period of time when his hair seemed to have a reddish tint, and as he looks a whole lot like Roberts I was rooting for a little auburn so that my genes would make an appearance as well. However, the more hair he gets, the more blonde it looks, and the hair on top especially was starting to get very long. He was getting some perma-bed-head from sleeping on his back, and although I was hoping not to have it cut too short, I did wish that we could get rid of some of that fuzz and the strands that were getting in his face.

Finally after yet another skype conversation with his grandfather in Kalamazoo where the topic of haircuts was brought up, I decided it was time (plus it would be a nice surprise for dad when he gets home from his business trip!). We cruised past a barbershop that had been recommended by a friend as being great with children, but they were booked full and the barber seemed a little surprised at how young Lauris was. So we went to the park, and stopped in the local salon on our way home to see if they could cut it. The woman took one look at little angel Lauris and made me promise to come back at 5pm that very day, of course she would give him his first haircut!

We returned as promised, mom with a bagful of books, toys and dread that we would have a disaster in the chair, Lauris with his flyaway hair doing a number from the static of his hat. He watched with interest as she finished up another customer’s hair, and then both women fawned and flirted with him as the bill was settled and au revoirs were said. Then, as I was busy pulling out Lauris’s books and toys, the hairdresser scooped Lauris up, sat him in the chair up on a booster seat, threw a special Mickey sheet over him and buttoned it behind his neck, and Lauris didn’t even bat an eye! It was as if he was a regular and was ready to talk baseball! She snipped away, and I was relieved to see that the distractions weren’t necessary and I was going to have my hands free to snap some photos.

Not even ten minutes later my little wild-haired boy had been transformed into a proper toddler, I had an envelope with a few snippets for the memory book in hand, and my camera with première coupe de cheveux pictures was stowed. As I bundled Lauris up and buckled him in I asked how much I owed. “Un cadeau” she replied, a gift, it is his first haircut.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As a Latvian-American, Thanksgiving has always been a holiday celebrated a little differently from my American friends. As they all headed home for four days of family, food and football, I was usually catching a train/plane/ride to another city for that year’s annual ALJA Kongress. As a member of the American Latvian Youth Association (in the last years a board member), the annual board meeting and elections were very much anticipated, as was the party, the reunions with friends long not seen, and the chance to be a tourist in yet another American city.

At the last Kongress I attended, I was up in front serving as secretary for the meeting of members when the motion was submitted and voted „yes” on to congratulate me on “the bun in the oven.” (Submitted by my wonderful husband, this was also our first big public announcement on the pregnancy!) This also turned out to be my last Kongress; even though one can be a member until the age of 35, I decided to pass on my board position of treasurer to the next capable hands, spent one year serving on the board of advisors and am now content watching my younger siblings enjoy the annual shenanigans.

Hard at work at my last ALJA Kongress

Here in France Thanksgiving has taken on a whole new meaning. Although we were in Clermont for the holiday last year, we hadn’t really met many Americans, and so we celebrated our thanks just the three of us, my husband, Lauris and I. This year, we will be attending the annual Thanksgiving and Harvest Fellowship Thanksgiving celebration hosted by Christ Church Clermont along with well over 100 other English-speaking residents of Clermont-Ferrand and the surrounding area. I have had the traditional turkey with trimmings on Thanksgiving before; living in Georgia I spent one Thanksgiving with the wonderful family that I rented my little house from. However, this will be my first real American Thanksgiving and I find it incredible ironic that it will be in France…

I have so much to be thankful for this year, and as my stomach expands and my emotions escalate, I find myself often in tears over all the wonderful family and friends, old and new, that are here with us in France. Whether you are here in person, through skype, with letters, cards and packages, or with us just by reading this blog, I value your friendship, your kind words, your thoughts and your love. Happy holidays.

I’m getting old.

It’s one celebration after another this month, as we observed Lauris’s 18 month birthday and then Latvia’s independence day. I've neglected to mention the first of the bunch, this was my 30^th birthday. Sandwiched between our Normandy trip and the Halloween party, I didn’t have the energy (nor the will) to organize anything, and so all the planning was left to Roberts. 

My expectation was flowers and dinner, and Roberts didn’t disappoint. The day before the dreaded 30 I came home to find vases of flowers scattered through the house. And then although the day itself was spent preparing for the Halloween party and cleaning house, in the evening a sitter arrived to take care of Lauris while we went out to dinner.

My quest for the best truffade in Clermont-Ferrand continued with a meal at La Caveau, which has been recommended to me by several friends especially for this Auvergne dish. The atmosphere (which was exactly what the name promised) was excellent, the room we were seated in held only four tables and all the cooking was done right there on the spot. We ordered chicken and beef (served with a blue cheese sauce), and both were equally delicious, but the champion was the truffade, which definitely ranks among my favorites here in Clermont.

Spoiled rotten!

The biggest surprise of my birthday came in the form of various packages that started arriving in the mail even a few days before, and continued turning up for a whole week. I first opened my present from my husband, in fact I should say presents, 30 individually wrapped gifts he and Lauris had been drawing, gathering and wrapping for who knows how long. I thought it was very cute, how he was sticking to the theme of thirty, and should have known it was no coincidence when I opened the present from my godmother, 30 of her favorite poems on colored sheets of paper. Then, the list of 30 things from my aunt and her family, the artwork of thirty leaves from my godson and family (along with a list of 30 breads to make and 30 Latvian centers in North America), another list of 30 from my grandmother along with a selection of 30 tea sachets, and a 30 song CD compilation from my cousin in Montreal. My sister and her husband continued the leaf theme with a 30 page book with pressed leaves they had gathered in Brooklyn (and 30 Reese’s!) The kicker, thirty individually wrapped presents from my parents and siblings in Chicago containing among other things; the traditional Latvian birthday cake (kliņģeris), chocolate, a framed piece of art of 30 leaves personally gathered, scanned and arranged, a few perfectly sized maternity shirts and a ton of other stuff! It was only a week later that I learned my sweet husband had come up with the idea and coordinated these mailings; thanks to him and all the participants for the best birthday, ever.

So I’m a year older, a year wiser. It isn’t as traumatic as I expected it to feel, to know that I’ve lived three decades; this is partly due to the adventure of everyday life here in France, but most of the credit belongs to my loving husband and son, who continue to make each and every day a new adventure.

30. dzimšanas diena

For the English version you’ll have to wait for the next post!

Lauris nav vienīgais kuŗš novembrī svinēja jubilēju; es mēneša sākumā svinēju savu trīsdesmito dzimšanas dienu. Visumā nebiju pārāk sajūsmā par šo dienu, mēs bijām nupat atgriezušies no mūsu Normandijas ceļojuma un bija jāgatavojās uz lielo Halovīna balli mūsu dzīvoklī. Tamdēļ arī neko sevišķi nebiju plānojusi, atstāju visu Roberta rokās domājot, ka būs sarunāta auklīte Laurim un jaukas vakariņas pilsētā.

Lauris palīdz salikt jauno IKEA lādi

Tā arī notika. Dienu ar Lauri pavadiju grebjot ķirbi nogales viesībām, taisot sikspārnu tūtiņas, kur bērniem likt savas konfektes un tīrot māju. Vakarā aukle atnāca un ar Robertu devos uz pilsētu. Neesmu vēl uzdevusi meklēt Clermont-Ferrand labāko truffade, vietējo kartupeļa un siera specialitāti, un vairākas paziņas ir man ieminējušās, ka viņām mīļākā truffade esot La Caveau resturantā. Nolēmām pamēģināt neko citu daudz par šo vietu nezinot. Atradām, un tiešām atradamies tādā „aliņā”, mūsu istabā tikai četri galdiņi un pavārds. Resturanta specialitāte izrādijas: gaļa! Vērša gaļa, jēra gaļa, vistas gaļa, visas ceptas uz uguns un pasniegtas ar zilo sieru vai sēņu mērci, un ar lielu pannu truffade! Roberts pasūtija vērša gaļu, es cāļa, mēs abi apēdām pusi savas maltītes un tad izmainijāmies, lai varētu arī nogaršot ko citu. Gala vērtējums? Varena gaisotne un apkalpošana, garšīgs ēdiens, truffade viena no labākām kuŗu esmu Clermont ēdusi, vienīgi cenas uz augsto pusi (un vīnu var tikai pirkt pa pudeli, ne pa glāzei).



Mājās ieradāmies un atradām Lauri labā omā. Tad arī iznāca attaisīt kādu dāvanu. Man par samērā lielu pārsteigumu bija pienākušas pastā vairākas pakas no ģimenes Amerikā; nesagaidītas, jo attāluma pēc domāju būs kartiņas. Roberts jau iepriekšējā vakarā mani pārsteidza ar puķēm izkaisītām vāzēs pa visu māju, bet galveno dāvanu viņš neatklāja par savējo līdz nākamai nedēļai! Izrādijās, ka netikai viņš ar Lauri man bija sazīmējuši, satinuši un sarakstijuši trīsdesmit dāvaniņas, viņi arī bija mudinājuši maniem radiņiem līdzīgus sūtijumus izveidot. Un tā man nāca pakas, viena pēc otras, ilgāk pa nedēļu! Sākumā brīnijos, ka visi sadomājuši tik varenas ‘30’-tēmatotas dāvanas. Vēlāk sapratu, ka kādam to bija jāorganizē, bet pate neuzminēju atbildīgo; to beidzot tikai uzzināju runājot ar sūtijuma dalībniekiem.

Gribu dalīties ar dažām no manām dāvanām. No krustmātes atnāca 30 viņas mīļākie dzejoļi, drukāti  uz krāsainiem papīriem (kuŗiem starpā arī bija daži mani mīļākie dzejoļi). No krustdēla un ģimenes bija varena fotogrāfija no 30 rudens lapām ko bija salasijuši un salikuši kolāžā (arī saraksts ar 30 raugumaizītēm un 30 latviešu centriem Ziemeļamerikā). Vecmamma sūtija man 30 tējas maisiņus un sarakstu ar 30 lietām kas viņai nāk prātā domājot par mani. No māsas ar vīru turpinājās rudens lapu tēma, viņi bija salikuši grāmatu ar 30 skaistām Ņujorkas lapām un tad vēl kastē salikuši 30 manas mīļākās šokolādes. Māsica Montreālā atsūtija 30-dziesmu CD. Tante ar ģimeni Čikagā arī bija izdomājuši 30 lietu garu sarakstu. Un mani vecāki, māsa un brālis bija salikuši 30 dāvanas kuŗu starpā bija dzimšanas dienas kliņģeris (!), šokolāde, ierāmēta rudens lapu kolāža kuŗu bija paši veidojuši, un vēl visādas varenas lietiņas. Protams pakām arī bija klāt lietas kuŗas tieši nepiesaistija numuru 30, bet abi divi saraksti bija tik vareni, ka ar tiem dalīšos.

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D omātāja

A ktīva blogotāja

U gunskura vadītāja

D arītāja

Z inīga ceļvede

L aura lutinātāja

A vīzītes (Foršās) bijušā redaktrise

I zcila omletes gatavotāja

M īļa māsica

E nerģiska „Scrabble” spēlētāja

S ēņu necienītāja

U teņa apmeklētāja

N ovērtēta sieva

B ibliotēkas baudītāja

U zjautrinoša „Soļānka” dalībniece

Č akla mājas māte

A merikas pilsone

S ieru un saldējuma degustētāja

L iela lasītāja

I nteresanta tūristu gide

E x ugunsdzēsēja

N ometņotāja

E iropas ceļotāja

I ndīgās efejas pazinēja

D abas draudzene

A sprātīga

I Pad lietotāja

G eocaching eksperte

A stoņpadsmitā augustā vārda dienas svinētāja

I iespaidīga jāņsiera raušu cepēja

            (no Ceru ģimenes)

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30 Ļoti svarīgas lietas kas man nāk prātā, kad domāju par Lieni Daigu;

1. Viņa ir mana pirmā mazmeita

2. Pieder manas ģimenes ļoti eksklusīvam 31-61-81-91-01 klubam

3. Pirmajā dzīves gadā naktīs nelabprāt gulēja, neļāva gulēt arī savai māmiņai.

4. Kā dzirdu, 28. un 29. dzīves gadā labprā™ gulētu cauras naktis!!... (kādēļ nē?).

5. Dāvāja man pirmo mazmazdēlu.

6. Kā maza guntiņa ievēroja Robertu Kukaini.

7. Sasniedza Dzimtenes Lielgaidas pakāpi.

8. Manā ģimenē, savā paaudzē pirmā latviešu gaidu vadītāja.

9. Dzīvoja veselu nedēļu nometnē ar 3 mēn. Vecu dēliņu! (es to nekad pat neapsvērtu darīt!)

10. Savā mūžā dzīvojusi čētrās ASV pavalstīs.

11. Strādājusi vēl vairāk pavalstīs.

12. Kāpusi augstos kokos pētīt un skaitīt putnu ligzdas un olas.

13. Ugunsdzēsēja.

14. Vienīgā mežkope ģimenē.

15. Saimnieka „puisis” (persona?) Gaŗezerā.

16. Pussmagās automašīnas īpašniece

17. Mīl kaķus.

18. Atveda man Ziemassvētku eglīti no Georgia’s.

19. Sūta man jaukas, gaŗas vēstules un pasta kartītes no visām pasaules malām.

20. Apceļojusi, es nezinu cik, pasaules valstis.

21. Dzīvo Francijā.

22. Viņai garšo: šprotes, Colby Jack, šokolāde.

23. Viņai negaršo: sēnes

24. Regulāri raksta dienas grāmatu – blog.

25. Cep vienreizējas pajas – pekanu un ķiršu.

26. Ir grūtības siet Jāņu sieru.

27. Ģērbjas eleganti!

28. Drošina mani, ka varēšot rīkoties ar I PAD.

29. Ir Laura Ūsiņa mamma.

30. Ir Roberta sieva.

Es tevi ļoti mīlu, V(ecmamma)